The Chesterton Town
Council’s vote on Monday to join the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission--as
reported by the Chesterton Tribune--prompted this comment by Commission
President Calvin Bellamy.

“The Commission is
thrilled to welcome Chesterton’s membership,” Bellamy said in a statement
released on Thursday. “By joining, Chesterton is committing to provide
training on ethical-decision making to all of its employees. As our first
Porter County member, Chesterton is demonstrating quality of life leadership
and we hope other Porter County communities will follow this fine example.”

“We are committed
to providing our employees superlative ethics training and in doing so raise
the standard of professional municipal conduct to those we serve,” Town
Manager Bernie Doyle said. “We look forward to being part of the growing
family of Northwest Indiana municipalities and organizations dedicated to
the highest public service.”

The Shared Ethics
Advisory Commission, formed in November 2005, is an all-volunteer
organization providing training on ethical decision-making to local public
officials. Other members include the County of LaPorte and ten Lake County
communities: Crown Point, Dyer, East Chicago, Gary, Highland, Lowell,
Munster, Schererville and Whiting.